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E. SCHNEIDER.

EPISCOPE FOR TANKS AND OTHER USES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8. m1.

1,3 1 1,294; Patented July 29, 1919.

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EPISGOPE FOR TANKS AND OTHER USES.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT. a. 1911.

1,3 1 1 ,294. Patented July 29, 1919.

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EPISCOFE FOR TANKS AND OTHER USES.

APPLIQATION FILED SEPT-6.191!- 1,3 1 1,294. Patented J nly 29, 1919.

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E. SCHNEIDER. EPISGOPE FOR TANKS AND OTHER uses.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-6. I91?- 1 Patented July 29, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGEN E SCHNEIDER, OF LE CREUZOT, FRANCE, ASSIGNOB TO SCHNEIDER 8c CIE., OF PARIS, FRANCE, A. LIMITED JOINT-STOCK COMI 'ANY OF FRANCE.

EPISCOPE FOR TANKS AND OTHER USES.

To a whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, Eucicsn SCHNEIDER, a citizen of the French Republic, and a resident of Le lreuzot, SaGne-et-Loire, France, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Episcopes for Tanks and other Uses, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved apparatus (hereinafter termed episcope) to allow of the examination of a portion of the horizon by an observer sheltered in a'tank or any other armored post, movable or fixed.

The improved apparatus is more particularly characterized by the mounting of the reflecting surfaces (mirrors or prisms) in a frame of thin. metal which is fitted in a removable manner in an armored casing, the front of which may be constituted by the armor of the actual shelter, while the other walls are formed by the sides and back of a casing fixed to the said armor. One of the sides of this casing is open to allow of introducing and removing the frame carrying the mirrors or prisms. The said frame is normally heldin its armored lodgment by a retaining device, such as a spring catch or fixing screws.

The invention is further characterized by the feature that one of the reflecting surfaces (the objective) is journaled in the frame of thin metal on a horizontal axle, so that the said reflecting surface may be inclined at different angles by means of a suitable actuating device operated by the observer inside the shelter.

Several embodiments of this invention are illustrated by way of example in the aec0mpanying drawings in which Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a first embodiment; Fig. 1 being a vertical section on the line I-I of Fig.2; Fig. 2 being a vertical section on the line II -II of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 being a rear elevation.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modification.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a further modification,

ig. 5 being a vertical section on the line V-V of Fig. 6, and Fig. 6 being a side elevation on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5.

In all these figures, A is the wall of the armored shelter to which the armored casing for the episcope'is fixed. A portion of sai wall forms the front or cover of the casing. a is an aperture for the entrance of the light holder of the mirror an Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J uly 29, 1919,

Application filed September 6, 1917. Serial No. 189,949.

rays, formed in the wall A opposite the back 13 of the casing. One of the sides of the casing, for instance the longitudinal side opposite to B (in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3), or the lower transverse wall opposite to B (in the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and (5) is omitted for the purpose of enabling the rapid introduction and removal of the thin metal frame 0 in which are mounted the mirrors or prisms D, E. This frame C when engaged in its armored lodgment, is held in place either by means of a spring catch F (Figs. 2 and 4) or by means of screws G (Figs. 5 and 6).

The mirror or reflecting, prism E may be fixed in the frame C, and .will be situated, when the said frame is placed in its lodgment, opposite an aperture b formed in the back of the casing. This back is preferably provided with hooks or ledges if, b for the purpose of guiding and supporting a removable thick pane of glass H The mirror or prism D which receives the light entering through the aperture a, is adapted to move on a longitudinal axle d journaled in the vertical sides of the frame 0, in such a manner that the surface that receives the images may be inclined at any desired angle.

In the example shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the various inclinations are produced by operating a knurled knob D which rubs with a fluted surface d against a flexible support 0! formed on the boss D in which the axle d is journaled.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the rotation of the mirror D is effected by means of a lever I fixed on the axle (Z and provided at its free end with a head 11 engaglng with a fluted are I fixed on the longitudinal side of the frame C.

In the examples shown in Figs. 5 and 6, J is a spring attached at one end to the upper transverse side of the frame C, and at its other end to the holder or supporting backing of the mirror D, in such a manner that the spring J has a constant tendency pull up the mirror D. Any deslred inclination may be given to the mirror by means of a screw K which bears with its end upon the d is adapted to be operated bymeans of a knurled knob K.

A broken mirror or prism can be rapidly replaced by the complete replacin o the frame (1 and the parts carried by t e latter.

For this purpose it is merely necessary to carry in the tank or other armored shelter, one or more similar spare frames.

That part of the nick B of the casing which may be liable to be struck by bullets entering through the aperture a, may be reinforced by a plate L of extra hard metal which ma be removable as shown in Figs. 1 and 3; the said plate L being kept fixed in its lodgment by means of a screw L.

'hat I claim is 1. In an episcope aflixed to an armored shelter such as a tank, for enabling an observer inside to gain a view of a portion of the horizon, the combination with the armored wall of the shelter, pierced with an inlet aperture for the entrance of the light from the outside, of an armored easin fixed to the inside of said armored wall, ormed with an exit aperture for light from said casing, and with a side opening, a I'Ell'lOVflblB frame made of thin metal adapted to be introduced through said side opening in said casing, a first reflector in said casing arranged to receive light entering through said inlet aperture, and'a second reflector in said casing arranged to receive the light reflected from said first reflector and to reflect same through said outlet aperture to the eye of the observer inside the shelter.

2. In an episcope atiixed to an armored shelter such as a tank, for enabling an observer inside to gain a view of a ortion of the horizon, the combination wit the armored wall of the shelter, pierced with an inlet aperture for the entrance of the light from the outside, of an armored casing, fixed to the inside of said armored wall, formed with an exit aperture for light from said casing, and with a side opening, a removable frame made of thin metal adapted to be introduced through said side opening in said casing, a first reflector in said casing arran ed to receive light entering through sai inlet aperture, and a second reflector in said casing arranged to receive the light reflected from said first reflector and to reflect same through said outlet aperture to the eye of the observer inside the shelter, and means operable from inside the shelter for varying the angular position of said first reflee-tor.

3. In an episcope aflixed to an armored shelter such as a tank, for enabling an observer inside to gain a view of a portion of the horizon, the combination with the armored wall of the shelter, pierced with an inlet aperture for the entrance of the light from the outside, of an armored casing, fixed to the inside of said armored wall, formed with an exit aperture for light from said casing, and with a side opening, a removable frame made of thin metal adapted to be introduced through said side opening in said casing, a first reflector in said casing arranged to receive light entering through said inlet aperture, and a second reflector in said casing arranged to receive the light reflected froln said first reflector and to reflect same through said outlet aperture to the eye of the observer inside the shelter, the inside back surface of said casing being reinforced opposite said inlet aperture with a plate of extra hard metal.

4. In an episcope aflixed to an armored shelter such as a tank, for enabling an observer inside to gain a view of a portion of thehorizon, the combination with the armored wall of the shelter, pierced with an inlet aperture for the entrance of the light from the outside, of an armored casing, fixed to the inside of said armored wall, formed with an exit aperture for light from said casing, and with a side opening, a removable frame made of thin metal adapted to be introduced through said side opening in said casing, a first reflector in said casing,arranged to receive light entering through said inlet aperture, and a second reflector in said casing arranged to receive the light reflected from said first reflector and to reflect same through said outlet aperture to the eye of the observer inside the shelter, the outside back surface of said casing being fitted with a removable protecting pane of reinforced glass opposite said outlet aperture.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER. 

